According to Deadline, NBC has outbid two other networks for a period drama called Cleopatra, which is about Cleopatra, who was an Egyptian famous for having a high school quartback/cheerleading captain relationship with Mark Antony. Of course, anyone who knows their ancient world history is familiar with the historically-accurate angle the NBC show is taking — Cleopatra made a divine pact to win her throne back from the Romans. And Egypt was full of sorcerers and monsters, obviously.

Since it will be on network TV, the Cleopatra series might not go full-tilt with the Antony and Cleopatra orgy scenes like we saw in HBO's Rome, but there's still room for a good amount of ancient world sexiness. If you've seen the Odyssey teleplay with Armand Assante as Odysseus, you'll know what I'm talking about, and if you haven't seen the Odyssey teleplay, then you need to immediately because it is wonderful and Eric Roberts is in it. News of the NBC series comes even as the Angelina Jolie Cleopatra movie percolates, much to the chagrin of ancient historians who are pretty sure that Cleopatra didn't look anything like Angelina Jolie. Maybe the small-screen version will make some bolder casting choices (fingers crossed).